What treatments are helpful for school refusal?
When treating school refusal, the primary treatment goal is to get children to return to school as soon as possible.1 Cognitive-behavioral interventions are well-researched and effective treatments for school refusal. Treatment varies by the age of a child and situational factors impacting the problem (e.g., divorce, bullying, phobias, etc.). Treatment generally includes the following:2 • Education about school refusal • Relaxation skills to cope with fear • Social skills training to learn how to interact effectively with peers and teachers • Cognitive techniques to address maladaptive thoughts (e.g., “Everyone will laugh at me,” “I’m not smart,” “I’m afraid that you are going to die while I’m at school,” etc.) • Gradual exposure to feared situations, whereby the child learns to be less afraid Parents learn to consult and problem-solve with school staff about their child’s difficulties and play an active role in the young person’s treatment. For instance, parents can find out what teac
